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Awards / Honors

50 Year Club honors outstanding achievements

September 27, 2010

The 50 Year Club and the Alumni Association are proud to honor two outstanding alumni at the annual 50 Year Club Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 15 at the Hilton Fort Collins.

50 Year Club Career Achievement Award

This award recognizes an alumnus or alumna with exceptional career success or accomplishments that reflect the value of an "Aggie" or CSU education.

Robert Phillips (B.S. ’59, D.V.M. ’61)

Following his education at CSU, Dr. Phillips went to the National Institutes of Health as a postdoctoral fellow and earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis before returning to CSU in 1964 as an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. He maintained a teaching career at CSU, reaching full professor, until 2005 when he retired.

In addition to his career in academia, Dr. Phillips worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1984-1991). His research in hypo- and hyperbaric chambers (which were located in the physiology building at CSU), along with his biomedical background was instrumental in his selection for astronaut training. He served as a senior scientist from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to NASA in Washington, D.C. For three years, he served as space station chief scientist. He trained at Johnson Space center as a payload specialist astronaut.

From 1994 to 2005, with an agreement between CSU and the NASA Life Science Division, Dr. Phillips served as NASA facilitator for the outreach and education program, instructing science teachers and students on how space flight changes Earth life.

Dr. Phillips has been inducted into the National Academies of Practice, and he recently completed a book titled, Grappling With Gravity, which helps the general public understand the effects of space flight. In addition to authoring or editing eight other books, Phillips holds two patents regarding oral and parenteral fluid administration to prevent, treat, and control dehydration in animals and human beings.

50 Year Club Public Service Award

This award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has shown exceptional involvement in community service, events or organizations, and demonstrated support to Colorado State University.

Alvie Rothe (B.S. ’57, M.S. ’64)

After receiving his master’s degree in dairy science, Alvie Rothe worked as an Extension agent for Weld County from 1964 to 1991. Initially, he was charged with the 4-H and youth programs. Later, he assumed duties for the adult dairy and horse programs, conducted management short courses, and was manager/coordinator of the Weld County Fair.

For 40 years, Rothe was involved in the 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging program. After his retirement from coaching he continued as an instructor in the dairy cattle judging class at CSU. In addition to 4-H, Extension, and the dairy program, Rothe has also been involved with the Colorado State Fair as the 4-H horse show superintendent, assistant horse show director, the US Western National 4-H Horse Classic management committee, and co-superintendent of the National Horse Judging contest.

Rothe has served and continues to serve on numerous committees, including Colorado Dairy Days, Colorado Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Colorado Holstein Association, Aims Community College Ag Committee, Colorado and Weld County 4-H Foundations, and many more.

Rothe’s honors include membership in the Colorado FFA Association’s Agriculture Hall of Fame, the Colorado Livestock Association Top Hand Award, the Distinguished Service Award for the Colorado Holstein Association, the 25-Year Service Award from Colorado State University, and the Distinguished Extension Award from the Colorado State University Alumni Association.